A school, which has seen a turnover of four head teachers in 12 months, is set to become an academy in a bid to secure a future in Chigwell.

Chigwell Primary School in High Road, Chigwell, is set to launch as a Reach2 academy next term after being branded as "needing improvement" following its latest OSTED inspection.

The May 2013 report highlighted a reported lack of progress of Years 3 to 6 pupils as a result of 'not good enough teaching' in the past.

Annual pupil learning standards were also highlighted as 'only average' and work set was branded as 'not always sufficiently challenging' in the report.

The school is due to be re-inspected next month ahead of the transition to becoming an academy school in July.

This month, the primary school, which caters for children aged four to 11-years-old, saw acting head teacher Fiona McGrath become the latest interim to resign from the position since the departure of Karen Jacobs in April 2014.

Publishing on their website the school said: "I can confirm that upon Mrs McGrath's departure, Mrs Elaine Brook will be leading the school as Acting Headteacher for the remainder of the summer term. 

“The head teacher and staff have already delivered significant improvements in the school and it is the responsibility of the Governors to ensure that the school succeeds and improves in the future.

“The Governors consider that sponsored academy status could ensure that those improvements are built on and sustained most effectively.

“We are 100% committed to developing and improving the school and are delighted to be doing so with the help and assistance of such a well respected Academy Trust Sponsor.”

A parent of a child at the school who wished to remain anonymous said: "I am pulling my child out of the school next term as I am concerned with the loss of so many head teachers.

"From what I can recall we have lost around five already in the last year.

"I am worried that the level of teaching is not what it used to be, I have no idea why the head teachers keep leaving."

An Essex County Council spokesman, who refused to reveal why the turnover of head teachers at the school is so high, said: “Chigwell Primary School has changed headteacher a number of times since April 2014. 

"In April 2014 the headteacher, who had been at the school for many years, resigned to relocate to another part of the country. 

"The deputy headteacher (Andy Lucas) was appointed as interim head for the summer term 2014, which is a common practice to cover a term. 

“The governing body advertised twice to appoint a substantive headteacher for September 2014, but were unable to make an appointment and appointed Andy Lucas as an interim so that the school would have a headteacher at the start of the academic year.

“Andy decided to leave this post for personal reasons in January 2015.  

"At this time, the governing body had agreed to become an academy sponsored by Reach2. 

"We have been working with Reach2 to make a substantive appointment for September 2015, but in the meantime further interim arrangements were agreed.

“To provide continuity, Reach2 have put in place an Executive headteacher who will work with the school throughout the summer term and into the new academic year."

Chigwell Primary School have been contacted for comment.